It’s no secret that Nate Campbell and Joan Guzman don’t like each other very much. Both fighters have exchanged insults in the lead up to their championship showdown on Sept. 13 on SHOWTIME. Below are quotes from both fight camps this week. Campbell talks about his ability to hand undefeated boxers their first loss. He even goes as far to say he would like to change the “0’s” in their records to “Nate’s.” As in, Guzman (28-0, 17 KOs) will be “28 and Nate” once Campbell takes his undefeated record away from him. Guzman, on the other hand, says Campbell will spend most of the fight swinging at air since he considers Campbell too slow to stay with him…
Making his first title defense, Campbell will risk his International Boxing Federation, World Boxing Organization and World Boxing Association lightweight titles against the undefeated two-division world champion Guzman on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2008, live on SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING at 9 p.m. ET/PT (delayed on the West Coast).
The fight will be co-promoted by Don King Productions and One Punch Productions, in association with Sycuan Ringside Promotions.
NATE CAMPBELL
On training camp..
“Camp is going really well. I feel great, and everything is coming along right on schedule. My sparring partners are earning every dime that we’re paying them.
“Now that we are inside a month from the fight, this is where I start to get nasty. I wish I could fight every 30 days, like I did earlier in my career. I wish today was September 12th.”
On Joan Guzman…
“Guzman doesn’t know what is going to happen to him. He has no idea where I’m taking him on Sept. 13th. I love it when they feed me these guys with these big fat shiny “0’s” in their records (Guzman is 28-0). Everyone thinks they are Gods because they are undefeated. All being undefeated means is that you haven’t fought anybody yet, or you’ve never had to deal with any adversity in or out of the ring.
“I’m collecting all these “0’s”, and changing them to “Nate’s”. Kid Diamond is 26 and Nate. Juan Diaz is 33 and Nate. And on Sept 13, Joan Guzman will be 28 and Nate. I fought too long and too hard to let anyone take these titles from me, especially Guzman. He just doesn’t know what he is in for.”
On the future…
“Right now my future is only about Joan Guzman. After that, I really don’t care who they put in front of me. I’ll fight anybody.
“I do know if I will have an IBF mandatory due. And since there’s no way in hell I’m giving up my IBF belt, that mandatory will have to be dealt with.”
JOAN GUZMAN
On Nate Campbell…
“Campbell loves to talk. He likes to run his mouth about anything. He can say whatever he wants because it doesn’t change the fact that I will make him look foolish on Sept. 13.
“Most fighters think they have me figured out simply by watching my recent fights. Campbell is no different. He thinks he has the keys to victory. Watching film and actually fighting me are two completely different things. If you thought I was fast and skilled on tape, wait until you try to hit me inside the ring. I’m a blur. It won’t happen.”
On moving up to lightweight…
“The weight won’t be an issue because I have a great strength and conditioning coach in my corner (David Buer). David is one of the best trainers in the country. He’s worked with a bunch of celebrities and world champion boxers.
“David’s training regimen are some of the most detailed that I have ever seen. He has everything worked out to the second. He knows how long it will take me to complete an exercise and what the appropriate rest time is. I do more in a half-hour than most gym rats do in a week. If you see me train, you’ll feel like you’re getting a workout just by watching me. It is that intense.
“One of the goals of training camp was to adjust and maximize my speed and power to the lightweight division. Guys are bigger and stronger here so I needed to spice things up in the gym. I’m confident that you will see the strongest, fastest and best conditioned Guzman ever on September 13.”
DAVID BUER
Strength & Conditioning Coach (SX Fitness)
“We are maximizing his power and speed by utilizing ballistic and plyometric training. Guzman is a world class athlete so it only makes sense for him to utilize a world class training regiment.”
Irish Ropes Promoting “Yonkers Goes Bonkers”
NEW YORK CITY (August 20, 2008) Coming fresh off of its successful June 28th “Hassle In The Castle” card in Boston, featuring unbeaten No. 2 rated middleweight contender “Ireland’s” John Duddy, Irish Ropes Promotions will present its second pro boxing show within 2 ½ months, “Yonkers Goes Bonkers,” on September 10 at the PAL Gym (127 N. Broadway) in Yonkers.
Headlining “Yonkers Goes Bonkers” is undefeated WBA No. 1 featherweight contender Maureen “The Real Million Dollar Baby” Shea (12-0, 6 KOs), fighting out of the Bronx.
Also scheduled to fight on the card are West Chester super featherweight Pasquel “El Tigre” Rouse (19-3-3, 11 KOs), undefeated Yonkers middleweight Bryant Pappas (6-0, 6 KOs), Israeli featherweight Eylon Kedem (6-1-3, 4 KOs), Glendale super bantamweight Jose “Pincho” Espinal (4-3-1, 1 KO) and Bronx featherweight Eddie Irizarry (2-0, 1 KO). All fighters are subject to change.
Tickets are priced at $40.00, $60.00, $75.00 and $100.00 and available Demsey’s Bar in Manhattan (212.629.9899), Hilltop Bar in Queens (718.429.8870), Paddy Doherty’s Ale House in the Bronx, and The Heritage Bar in Yonkers (914.776.7532)
Doors open at 6:30 PM, first bout at 7:30 PM. For more information go to www.irishropes.com or call 212.868.9543.